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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A short light musical drama.






2. Three notes played in the same amount of time as one or two beats.






3. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






4. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






5. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1800's and lasted about sixty years. There was a strong regard for order and balance.






6. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






7. The playing or singing the upper half of the vocal range. Also the highest voice in choral singing.






8. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






9. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






10. Tone color - quality of sound that distinguishes one verse or instrument to another. It is determined by the harmonies of sound.






11. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






12. A portion of the range of the instrument or voice.






13. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






14. The keyboard of a stringed instrument.






15. A system of notation for stringed instruments. The notes are indicated by the finger positions.






16. A short piece originally preceded by a more substantial work - also an orchestral introduction to opera - however not lengthy enough to be considered an overture.






17. A direction to play lively and fast.






18. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






19. A musical composition that has a romantic or dreamy character with nocturnal associations.






20. A repeated phrase.






21. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






22. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






23. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






24. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






25. Direction to performer to play a composition in a brisk - lively - and spirited manner.






26. An extended solo - often accompanying the vocal part of an aria.






27. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






28. System of notes or tones based on and named after the key note.






29. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






30. The principal note of a triad.






31. The piece of cane in wind instruments. The players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound.






32. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






33. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






34. A line in a contrapuntal work performed by an individual voice or instrument.






35. Suite of Baroque dances.






36. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






37. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played gracefully.






38. Three to four movement orchestral piece - generally in sonata form.






39. The interval between two notes. Two whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






40. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






41. A quick 20th century dance written in double time.






42. A symbol indicating that the note is to be diminished by one semitone.






43. A single line of music played or sung. A musical sentence.






44. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






45. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






46. Music that is easy to listen to and understand.






47. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






48. Elaborate polyphonic composition of the Boroque and Renaissance periods.






49. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






50. Groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord.